Although I became Orthodox nearly a decade ago, I still feel unworthy to be Orthodox. This, I do understand, comes out of pride: it would be easier to be Catholic, at least in relations with my family; I feel "less" Orthodox than the Greeks, Russians, or Georgians who were raised in the Faith--although all have equally opened their arms to me and other converts. This, I should add, all while I feel a great pull to the priesthood--since even before I became Orthodox (although then I was pulled towards the "ministry)--even though I push myself away from that area.

Anyhow, this came out rather muddled, but I'm curious to know if anyone else besides me has ever experienced these problems.

Although I became Orthodox nearly a decade ago, I still feel unworthy to be Orthodox.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š This, I do understand, comes out of pride: it would be easier to be Catholic, at least in relations with my family; I feel "less" Orthodox than the Greeks, Russians, or Georgians who were raised in the Faith--although all have equally opened their arms to me and other converts.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š This, I should add, all while I feel a great pull to the priesthood--since even before I became Orthodox (although then I was pulled towards the "ministry)--even though I push myself away from that area.

Anyhow, this came out rather muddled, but I'm curious to know if anyone else besides me has ever experienced these problems.

hey Anthony dont feel like that man, I'm sure God doesnt want you to... He's your father and He's glad you're home dont compare yourself to others. anyway dont rush the priesthood thing, give it time and put it all in God's hands, He'll let you know loud and clear.

A Conditional baptism from the RC's? Interesting. I'm just curious and if you prefer to not answer I apologize for asking. Were the records lost? Was it a regular RC Church? (as opposed to an off-shoot like some I've read that claim to be the Real RC's) Was this long ago?

Respectfully,

Ebor

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"I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was "Feed my sheep", not "Try experiments on my rats", or even "Teach my performing dogs new tricks". - C. S. Lewis

Wow, lot's of RC converts. Interesting. I haven't met that many in real life. I know our Matushka said that she thought it was hardest for RC's to become Orthodox, which I agree with. I know I torture myself with the question "if it was pre-Vatican II times, would I have found Orthodoxy?" But you can drive yourself crazy with questions like that.

I was born into a relatively non-practicing catholic family. I came to the faith after seriously examining the faith and I believed that I truly could not affirm that the Catholic Church and its teachings were the the true faith. That was almost 25 years ago, and I have no regrets.

The family thing can really kill you though. My grandfather had been in a seminary, and my grandparents were very pious, E. European, old-style RC. It's interesting, because I guess my grandmother would cover the mirrors during Lent, and not allow the radio to be played. Now of course, if you keep Orthodox Lent, people think you're nuts, as in "Fasting??? WHAT??"

When I was a little kid, my grandmother gave me a Catholic holy picture, and it is still a very precious thing to me. I know that some converts really believe the RC's are evil, but I just don't have that view. Misguided, but not evil. Interestingly, we have a RC priest who sometimes attends services at our ROCOR parish. Our priest keeps asking him when he's going to convert.

I am converting from the Protestant Pentecostal Movement, specifically Foursquare.

My journey has been long and strenuous, as I also went from Foursquare to Messianic Judaism in search of the first church. My wife and I drove roughly 70 miles each Saturday to attend something which was new to us both, searching for the Truth of the First Church. Little did I know that the One, True Church was right in my old hometown not 6 miles away, and I glanced by it everytime I drove by not thinking that someday I would eventually attend and desire the fullness of the Mysteries that lie within. That Church which I ignored for so many years was this little Greek Orthodox Church. My wife and I are in the process of joining whereas our two girls are already baptized and chrismated.

What a great thread. Vasili, welcome to oc.net! I, too, dabbled in so-called "Messianic Judaism" before finding Orthodoxy. Didn't really like the Byzantine liturgy when I first saw it, but I DID acknowledge immediately how "Hebrew" it was.

What a great thread.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Vasili, welcome to oc.net!ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š I, too, dabbled in so-called "Messianic Judaism" before finding Orthodoxy.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Didn't really like the Byzantine liturgy when I first saw it, but I DID acknowledge immediately how "Hebrew" it was.

Same here. I saw how Jewish the service was, the similiarities that show us the fulfilment of the Messiah as Jesus. I miss the Hebrew though, mainly because my Greek is horrible(lol) and my Hebrew is okay. But I honestly sense that it was a good passing from the Messianic synagogue to the Greek Orthodox Church. It prepared me for a Liturgical service as well as showing fulfillment of the Church.

Baptized as an infant in the Presbyterian Church (now PCUSA)Confirmed in the United Methodist Church at age 1210-year vacation from churchReturn and conversion to Episcopalianism at 31Found Home in Orthodoxy at 37

Baptized at six yrs. old in 1st Baptist church in L.A. (unusaual for baptists-18 or older to be baptized-rule of thumb) by my own choice.Ran away from God to study many "gods" until I became Rastafarian @ 22 yrs.found the Orthodox church @ 25 1/2 yrs.baptised @ 27now 29"Lord have mercy." + + +

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Heaven is full of people who do not deserve to be there and oddly absent of those who think they do.

I am a convert to the Antiochian Archdiocese from the United Church of Christ (or "Unitarians Considering Christ" as they are sometimes called). I did actually receive a Trinitarian baptism (which I'm not sure they do any more). When I was in high school, I had many "evangelical" friends, and so I started going to church with them and reading the Bible. This raised in my mind a lot of questions about the differences between Christian churches. But when I went to talk to my UCC pastor about it, he just told me something like, "Whatever path you choose to follow is the right one for you."

So I was evangelical/charismatic/fundamentalist for a while and went to a Bible college. It was there I found out about Orthodoxy. In my studies of the Scriptures and Church history, it became obvious to me that the early church was sacramental and hierarchical, and that "sola scriptura" and "sola fide" were not taught anywhere until the 16th century. About half way through my Protestant seminary training, after shedding my Protestant/egalitarian/higher critical baggage, I was chrismated into the true Church, the fullness of the Christian faith.

Born and raised in the Serbian Orthodox Church. After having moved, went to a "Macedonian" Orthodox Church (for 4 years), thinking it was the same thing, just a different flavor. After realizing I was wrong, went back to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Born and raised in the Serbian Orthodox Church.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š After having moved, went to a "Macedonian" Orthodox Church (for 4 years), thinking it was the same thing, just a different flavor.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š After realizing I was wrong, went back to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

They're Schismatic...and are being used/using their government to justify their existence, while both a) persecuting the legitimate Serbian Orthodox Church and b) allowing their government to use them (the MOC) for their own political agendas.

While I was born into an Orthodox family, I haven't voted until now because I disagree with the way the title of this thread seperates believers. No one is born Orthodox, we are all converts to it. It is our second birth (baptism) not our first which determines Orthodoxy.

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

Raised high-church Methodist, drifted (very, very slightly) into Anglicanism during high school, whence I fled back to Orthodoxy. I say "back to" since Orthodoxy really is the "faith of my fathers," until they arrived here fleeing the Russian Revolution, anyway. I'm the first in four generations, so far, to come back to the Church.

And an off-topic hello to Orthotex, since we attend the same parish. Hi!

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Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl. ~Frederick the Great

A Conditional baptism from the RC's?ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Interesting. I'm just curious and if you prefer to not answer I apologize for asking.ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Were the records lost?ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€š Was it a regular RC Church? (as opposed to an off-shoot like some I've read that claim to be the Real RC's) Was this long ago?

Respectfully,

Ebor

Sorry for getting back with an answer so late, but to answer your question: There must have be some recognition of baptisms as performed by the Episcopal church by the Roman Catholic church. Otherwise, I would have been UNconditionally baptised. Remember I was baptised in the Episcopal church some 65 years ago when Episcopalians were very conservative and you dont see the things happening in their church as you see today. Conditional baptisms are or were performed by the RCC quite frequently and I believe the words go something like this: "On the condition that this (baptisimal name) was not baptised I baptise thee in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost". Or words to this effect.